U.S. patent application number 11/615300 was filed with the patent office on 2007-07-12 for method of displaying at least one function command and mobile terminal implementing the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC.. Invention is credited to Sang Hyuk Hong, Hyun Ho Kim.
Application Number | 20070162872 11/615300 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37943795 |
Filed Date | 2007-07-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070162872 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hong; Sang Hyuk ; et
al. |
July 12, 2007 |
METHOD OF DISPLAYING AT LEAST ONE FUNCTION COMMAND AND MOBILE
TERMINAL IMPLEMENTING THE SAME
Abstract
A method of displaying at least one function command and mobile
terminal implementing the same are disclosed, by which a user is
facilitated to select and execute a function command by excluding a
tree-structured function command configuration from the mobile
terminal. The present invention includes displaying an object list,
which comprises at least one object, in a first fixed region of a
display unit, and displaying a menu list, which comprises at least
one function command executable for the selected object, in a
second fixed region of the display unit if one of the at least one
object is selected from the object list.
Inventors: |
Hong; Sang Hyuk; (Seoul,
KR) ; Kim; Hyun Ho; (Seoul, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LEE, HONG, DEGERMAN, KANG & SCHMADEKA
660 S. FIGUEROA STREET
Suite 2300
LOS ANGELES
CA
90017
US
|
Assignee: |
LG ELECTRONICS INC.
|
Family ID: |
37943795 |
Appl. No.: |
11/615300 |
Filed: |
December 22, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
715/828 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 1/72469 20210101;
G06F 3/0482 20130101; H04M 1/72427 20210101 |
Class at
Publication: |
715/828 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/048 20060101
G06F003/048 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 23, 2005 |
KR |
10-2005-0128528 |
Claims
1. A method of displaying at least one function command in a mobile
terminal, the method comprising: displaying an object list, which
comprises at least one object, in a first fixed region of a display
unit; and displaying a menu list, which comprises the at least one
function commands executable for the selected object, in a second
fixed region of the display unit if one of the at least one object
is selected from the object list.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising executing the selected
function command for the selected object if one of the at least one
function command is selected from the menu list.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the menu list is displayed while
the object list is displayed.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one object includes
at least one of a phone number, a call record, a text and voice
message, a picture file, an audio file and a moving picture
file.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the menu list differs in part
according to a type of the selected object.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of displaying the object
list further comprises: sorting the object list in order of most to
least number of selected objects; and displaying the sorted object
list.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of displaying the object
list further comprises: sorting the object list in order based on
recently selected object; and displaying the sorted object
list.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of displaying the object
list further comprises: sorting the object list in order set by a
user; and displaying the sorted object list.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of displaying the object
list is executed if the mobile terminal is in a standby mode.
10. A method of displaying at least one function command in a
mobile terminal, the method comprising: displaying an object list,
which comprises at least one object, in a first display unit;
displaying a menu list, which comprises the at least one function
command executable for the selected object, in a second display
unit if one of the at least one object is selected from the object
list; and executing the selected function command for the selected
object if one of the at least one function command is selected from
the menu list.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the menu list differs in part
according to a type of the selected object.
12. A mobile terminal, comprising: a display unit; an input unit;
and a control unit displaying an object list, which comprises one
or more objects, in a first fixed region of a display unit, wherein
if one of the one or more objects is selected from the object list,
the control unit displays the menu list of one or more function
commands corresponding to the selected object in a second fixed
region of the display unit and if one of the one or more function
commands is selected from the menu list, the control unit allows
the selected function command to be executed for the selected
object.
13. The mobile terminal of claim 12, wherein the control unit
allows the menu list to be displayed while the object list is
displayed.
14. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the display unit and
the input unit comprise a built-in touchscreen, and wherein one of
the one or more objects and one of the one or more function
commands are selected by touching the corresponding object on the
touchscreen and dragging & dropping the touched object on the
corresponding function command in the menu list.
15. A mobile terminal comprising: a first display unit; a second
display unit; an input unit; and a control unit displaying an
object list of at least one object in the first display unit,
wherein if one of the at least one object is selected from the
object list, the control unit displays a menu list of at least one
function command corresponding to the selected object in the second
display unit, and if one of the at least one function command is
selected from the menu list, the control unit allows the selected
function command to be executed for the selected object.
16. The mobile terminal of claim 15, wherein the menu list differs
in part according to a type of the selected object.
17. A method of displaying at least one function command in a
mobile terminal, the method comprising: displaying a menu list,
which comprises at least one function command, in a first fixed
region of a display unit; displaying an object list, which
comprises at least one object, enabling the selected function
command to be executed if one of the at least one function command
is selected from the menu list; and executing the selected function
command corresponding to the selected object if one of the at least
one object is selected from the object list.
18. The mobile terminal of claim 17, wherein the object list is
displayed while the menu list is displayed.
19. A mobile terminal, comprising: a display unit; an input unit;
and a control unit displaying a menu list, which comprises at least
one function command, in a first fixed region of a display unit,
wherein if one of the at least one function command is selected
from the menu list, the control unit displays an object list of at
least one or more objects enabling the selected function command to
be executed, and if one of the at least one object is selected from
the object list, the control unit allows the selected function
command to be executed for the selected object.
20. The mobile terminal of claim 19, wherein the display unit and
the input unit comprise a built-in touchscreen, and wherein one of
the at least one object and one of the at least one function
command is selected by touching the corresponding object on the
touchscreen and dragging & dropping the touched object on the
corresponding function command in the menu list.
21. A method for displaying a menu on a touchscreen display of a
portable device, the method comprising: displaying a first list of
menu items in a first fixed region of the display; receiving input
responsive to user contact with the display relative to a menu item
of the first list of menu items to identify a selected menu item;
and displaying, responsive to the input, a second list of menu
items in a second fixed region of the display, wherein the second
list of menu items are related to the selected menu item.
22. The method according to claim 21, wherein each of a plurality
of menu items of the first list of menu items is associated with a
particular function.
23. The method according to claim 21, wherein each of a plurality
of menu items of the first list of menu items is associated with a
particular application.
24. The method according to claim 21, the method further
comprising: continuing the displaying of the first list of menu
items after the displaying of the second list of menu items.
25. The method according to claim 21, wherein the selected menu
item is associated with a telephone function, and the second list
of menu items comprise telephone numbers.
26. The method according to claim 21, wherein the selected menu
item is associated with a message function, and the second list of
menu items comprise contact identifiers.
27. The method according to claim 21, wherein the selected menu
item is associated with a multimedia function, and the second list
of menu items comprise picture files.
28. The method according to claim 21, the method further
comprising: detecting sliding user contact with the display
relative to a selected menu item of second list of menu items;
detecting the sliding user contact which is proximately located
relative to a menu function item of the first list of menu items;
and executing the menu function item in conjunction with the
selected menu item.
29. The method according to claim 21, wherein the displaying of the
second list of menu items further comprises: displaying menu items
of the second list of menu items in order from most-selected to
least-selected.
30. The method according to claim 21, wherein the displaying of the
second list of menu items further comprises: displaying menu items
of the second list of menu items in order from most-recently
selected menu items to least-recently selected menu items.
31. The method according to claim 21, wherein the displaying of the
second list of menu items further comprises: displaying menu items
of the second list of menu items according to a user-defined
order.
32. The method according to claim 21, wherein the first fixed
region is distinct from the second fixed region.
33. The method according to claim 21, wherein each of the menu
items of the second list of menu items vary based upon which menu
item of the first list of menu items is the selected menu item.
34. The method according to claim 21, wherein each of a plurality
of menu items of the second list of menu items includes at least
one of a phone number, a contact identifier, a call record, a text
message, a voice message, a picture file, an audio file, and a
video file.
35. A method for displaying a menu on a touchscreen display of a
portable device, the method comprising: displaying a first list of
menu items in a first region of the display, wherein a plurality of
menu items of the first list of menu items is associated with a
particular function; receiving input responsive to user contact
with the display relative to a menu item of the first list of menu
items to identify a selected menu item; and displaying, responsive
to the input, a second list of menu items in a second region of the
display, wherein the second list of menu items are related to the
selected menu item.
36. The method according to claim 35, wherein the selected menu
item is associated with a telephone function, and the second list
of menu items comprise telephone numbers.
37. The method according to claim 35, wherein the selected menu
item is associated with a message function, and the second list of
menu items comprise contact identifiers.
38. The method according to claim 35, wherein the selected menu
item is associated with a multimedia function, and the second list
of menu items comprise picture files.
39. The method according to claim 35, wherein the displaying of the
second list of menu items further comprises: displaying menu items
of the second list of menu items according to a user-defined
order.
40. A portable device, comprising: a touch screen display
comprising a first fixed region and a second fixed region; a
control unit for operating responsive to user contact with the
display, wherein the control unit is configured to: display on the
display a first list of menu items in the first fixed region;
receive input responsive to user contact with the display relative
to a menu item of the first list of menu items to identify a
selected menu item; and display, responsive to the input, a second
list of menu items in the second fixed region of the display,
wherein the second list of menu items are related to the selected
menu item.
41. The portable device according to claim 40, wherein each of a
plurality of menu items of the first list of menu items is
associated with a particular function.
42. The portable device according to claim 40, wherein each of a
plurality of menu items of the first list of menu items is
associated with a particular application.
43. The portable device according to claim 40, wherein the control
unit is further configured to: continue the displaying of the first
list of menu items after the displaying of the second list of menu
items.
44. The portable device according to claim 40, wherein the selected
menu item is associated with a telephone function, and the second
list of menu items comprise telephone numbers.
45. The portable device according to claim 40, wherein the selected
menu item is associated with a message function, and the second
list of menu items comprise contact identifiers.
46. The portable device according to claim 40, wherein the selected
menu item is associated with a multimedia function, and the second
list of menu items comprise picture files.
47. The portable device according to claim 40, wherein the control
unit is her configured to: detect sliding user contact with the
display relative to a selected menu item of second list of menu
items; detect the sliding user contact which is proximately located
relative to a menu function item of the first list of menu items;
and execute the menu function item in conjunction with the selected
menu item.
48. The portable device according to claim 40, wherein the control
unit is further configured to: display menu items of the second
list of menu items in order from most-selected to
least-selected.
49. The portable device according to claim 40, wherein the control
unit is further configured to: display menu items of the second
list of menu items in order from most-recently selected menu items
to least-recently selected menu items.
50. The portable device according to claim 40, wherein the control
unit is further configured to: display menu items of the second
list of menu items according to a user-defined order.
51. The portable device according to claim 40, wherein the first
fixed region is distinct from the second fixed region.
52. The portable device according to claim 40, wherein each of the
menu items of the second list of menu items vary based upon which
menu item of the first list of menu items is the selected menu
item.
53. The portable device according to claim 40, wherein each of a
plurality of menu items of the second list of menu items includes
at least one of a phone number, a contact identifier, a call
record, a text message, a voice message, a picture file, an audio
file, and a video file.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of the Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2005-0128528, filed on Dec. 23, 2005, which is
hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to at least one function
command display, and more particularly, to a method of displaying
at least one function command and mobile terminal implementing the
same. Although the present invention is suitable for a wide scope
of applications, it is particularly suitable for facilitating a
user to select and execute a function command in the mobile
terminal.
[0004] 2. Discussion of the Related Art
[0005] With remarkable developments in the field of information
communication technology, the areas of the information and
communication technology expects great changes. Admist rapidly
changing information/communication technology, a mobile
communication terminal is being widely used and can be regarded as
a necessity in today's society.
[0006] In order to meet a user's demand according to the base
expansion of the mobile communication terminals, various functions
including a short message service, a multimedia messaging system
(MMS), an Internet access and a general voice calling are provided
to the mobile communication terminal.
[0007] In addtion, as the tendency for convergence to provide
various functions to one device expands, various additional
functions including a multimedia play, a photographing, a game, and
a basic communication are provided to a mobile communication
terminal (e.g., a mobile phone).
[0008] Furthermore, a size of a screen of a display unit of a
mobile terminal tends to decrease to reduce an exterior size of the
mobile terminal for the portability of the mobile terminal. Due to
these reasons, more menus or icons for the function commads tend to
be displayed on the screen of the display unit in a complicated
tree structure to perform the aforesaid various functions.
[0009] However, in order to select a specific function command from
the menu tree structure, a user has to pass at least two function
command selecting procedures. As such, a process for selecting the
specific function command can be considered very complicated.
[0010] Further, unless the user has the menu tree structure
memorized, the user has to guess the position of the specific
function command in the menu tree structure to find a final
function command (lowest function command in the tree structure)
specified by the user. Consequently, a very troublesome work of
finding the final or lowest function command again after an upper
function command has been retrieved in case that the specific
function command fails to be selected correctly from the menu tree
structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a method
of displaying at least one function command and mobile terminal
implementing the same that substantially obviate one or more
problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related
art.
[0012] An object of the present invention is to provide a method of
displaying at least one function command and mobile terminal
implementing the same, by which a user is facilitated to select and
execute at least one function command by excluding a
tree-structured menu configuration from the mobile terminal.
[0013] Additional advantages, objects, and features of the
invention will be set forth in part in the description which
follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary
skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be
learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other
advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the
structure particularly pointed out in the written description and
claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
[0014] To achieve these objects and other advantages and in
accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and
broadly described herein, a method of displaying at least one
function command in a mobile terminal according to the present
invention includes displaying an object list, which comprises at
least one object, in a first fixed region of a display unit, and
displaying a menu list, which comprises the at least one function
command executable for the selected object, in a second fixed
region of the display unit if one of the at least one object is
selected from the object list.
[0015] In another aspect of the present invention, a method of
displaying at least one function command in a mobile terminal
includes displaying an object list, which comprises at least one
object, in a first display unit, displaying a menu list, which
comprises at least one function command executable for the selected
object, in a second display unit if one of the at least one object
is selected from the object list, and executing the selected
function command corresponding to the selected object if one of the
at least one function command is selected from the menu list.
[0016] In another aspect of the present invention, a mobile
terminal includes a display unit, an input unit, and a control unit
displaying an object list, which comprises at least one object, in
a first fixed region of a display unit, if one of the one or more
objects is selected from the object list, wherein if one of the one
or more objects is selected from the object list, the control unit
displays the menu list of one or more function commands
corresponding to the selected object in a second fixed region of
the display unit and if one of the one or more function commands is
selected from the menu list, the control unit allows the selected
function command to be executed for the selected object.
[0017] In another aspect of the present invention, a mobile
terminal includes a first display unit, a second display unit, an
input unit, and a control unit displaying an object list of at
least one or more objects in the first display unit, wherein if one
of the at least one object is selected from the object list, the
control unit displays a menu list of at least one function command
corresponding to the selected object in the second display unit,
and it one of the at least one function command is selected from
the menu list, the control unit allows the selected function
command to be executed for the selected object.
[0018] In another aspect of the present invention, a method of
displaying at least one function command in a mobile terminal
includes displaying a menu list, which comprises at least one
function command, in a first fixed region of a display unit,
displaying an object list, which comprises at least one object,
enabling the selected function command to be executed if one of the
at least one function command is selected from the menu list, and
executing the selected function command corresponding to the
selected object if one of the at least one object is selected from
the object list.
[0019] In another aspect of the present invention, a mobile
terminal includes a display unit, an input unit, and a control unit
displaying a menu list, which comprises at least one function
command, in a first fixed region of a display unit, wherein if one
of the at least one function command is selected from the menu
list, the control unit displays an object list of at least one or
more objects enabling the selected function command to be executed,
and if one of the at least one object is selected from the object
list, the control unit allows the selected function command to be
executed for the selected object.
[0020] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description of the present
invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide
further explanation of the invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiments) of
the invention and together with the description serve to explain
the principle of the invention. In the drawings:
[0022] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a mobile terminal
according to the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 2 is a schematic flowchart of a method of displaying at
least one function command according to a first embodiment of the
present invention;
[0024] FIGS. 3A to 3D are diagrams of pictures displayed on a
display unit screen of a mobile terminal implementing at least one
function command displaying method according to a first embodiment
of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are diagrams of another pictures
displayed on a display unit screen of a mobile terminal
implementing at least one function command displaying method
according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0026] FIGS. 5A to 5C are transitional diagrams of pictures
displayed on a touchscreen of a mobile terminal implementing at
least one function command displaying method according to a first
embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 6 is a schematic flowchart of a method of displaying at
least one function command according to a second embodiment of the
present invention; and
[0028] FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams of pictures displayed on a
display unit screen of a mobile terminal implementing at least one
function command displaying method according to a second embodiment
of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0029] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the
same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to
refer to the same or like parts.
[0030] The present invention is applicable to a mobile terminal
such as a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a
portable multimedia player (PMP) and the like. Yet, for convenience
and simplicity of explanation in the following description, it is
assumed that the present invention is applied to a mobile
communication terminal such as a mobile phone. As such, it should
be understood that the present invention is not limited to the
following explanation and embodiments.
[0031] A configuration of a mobile terminal according to the
present invention is explained with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is
a schematic block diagram of a mobile terminal according to the
present invention.
[0032] Referring to FIG. 1, a mobile terminal 1 includes a memory
unit 10, an input unit 30, a display unit 50, and a control unit
70. Here, the mobile terminal 1 can be provided with other various
additional elements (e.g., an Radio Frequency (RF) processing unit,
a multimedia content play unit, a camera unit) in addition to the
aforesaid elements. Since the additional elements are not directly
associated with the present invention, explanations for the
additional elements will be omitted in the following description
for brief explanation of the present invention.
[0033] The memory unit 10 stores various types of software to
implement various function commands provided by the mobile terminal
1 and various types of data associated with the software. Moreover,
the memory unit 10 stores phone numbers, call records, video files,
audio files, text, or voice messages, moving picture files and the
like as targets of the function command in case that a specific
function command is executed in the mobile terminal 1. Hereinafter,
the above execution targets are called `objects`.
[0034] Preferably, the memory unit 10 can store an accumulated
selection count of each of the function commands, and/or an
accumulated selection count of each of the objects. Moreover, the
memory unit 10 can store information for a recently or last
selected function command, and/or information for a recently or
last selected object. The accumulated selection count and the
information can be used for a function command displaying method
according to the present invention, which will be explained
later.
[0035] The input unit 30 enables a terminal user to input various
commands or information. The input unit 30 may include a keypad
type input device, a navigation key type input device, a touch pad
type input device, a jog-dial type input device and/or the like,
which does not put limitation on the input unit of the present
invention.
[0036] The display unit 50 displays various kinds of visual
information provided by the mobile terminal 1. Moreover, the mobile
terminal 1 may include at least two display units, if necessary.
The function command and the objects are displayed on the display
unit 50 which will be explained later.
[0037] A touchscreen is provided to the mobile terminal 1. Here,
the touch screen can be configured perform the functions of the
input unit 30 and the display unit 50 simultaneously.
[0038] Further, the control unit 70 controls the memory unit 10,
the input unit 30 and the display unit 50 to enable a function
command displaying method which can be implemented in the mobile
terminal 1.
[0039] A function command displaying method to be implemented in
the above-configured mobile terminal 1 is explained as follows.
First Embodiment
[0040] A method of displaying at least one function command
according to a first embodiment of the present invention is
explained with reference to FIGS. 2 to 43 as follows.
[0041] FIG. 2 is a schematic flowchart of a method of displaying at
least one function command according to a first embodiment of the
present invention, FIGS. 3A to 3D are diagrams of pictures
displayed on a display unit screen of a mobile terminal
implementing at least one function command displaying method
according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and
FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are diagrams of another pictures displayed on a
display unit screen of a mobile terminal implementing at least one
function command displaying method according to the first
embodiment of the present invention.
[0042] An object list 510 of at least one or more objects is
displayed on the display unit 50 of the mobile terminal [S210]. The
object list 510 can be configured to be displayed as a default if
the mobile terminal is in a standby mode. The object list 510 can
be configured to be displayed if a user inputs a command for a
display of the object list to the mobile terminal 1. As mentioned
above, the objects of various types, such as phone numbers, call
records, video files, audio files, text or voice messages, moving
picture files, can be listed on the object list 510. Yet, for
convenience of conciseness, assuming that the phone number, video
file, audio file and text message type objects among those objects
are listed on the object list 510 in FIGS. 3A to 3D, the
explanation continues as follows.
[0043] Preferably, the object list 510 is configured to be
displayed in a specific style in a predetermined region of the
display unit (hereinafter called `first fixed region`). FIGS. 3A to
3D exemplarily show that the object list 510 is uniformly displayed
in a matrix style on a left region of the display unit. Namely, the
left region of the display unit corresponds to the first fixed
region in FIGS. 3A to 3D.
[0044] The objects of the object list can be displayed in various
ways. That is, the objects can be displayed in a descending order
based on a selection count of each of the objects. Alternatively,
the objects can be displayed in an order starting from most
recently selected object to first selected object by the user.
Alternatively, the objects can be displayed in an order
preconfigured by the user. If there are too many objects, making it
difficult to display the all of the objects simultaneously on a
screen, the object list can be configured so that a specified
number of objects are displayed.
[0045] Preferably, each of the objects on the object list can be
configured to be displayed as a combination of a text indicating a
name of the corresponding object and an image indicating a type of
the corresponding object. In particular, with respect to objects
such as a video file or a moving picture file, an image of the file
itself can be displayed instead of an image indicating a type of
the object.
[0046] Subsequently, one of the objects can be selected from the
object list 510 [S230]. If one object is selected from the object
list, the selected object is preferably displayed to be visually
distinct from rest of the unselected objects of the object list by
using a color change, a size variation, a flickering effect or the
like.
[0047] After one of the objects is selected, a list of function
commands (hereinafter called menu list) 560, which can be executed
for the selected object, is displayed [S250].
[0048] FIG. 3A is an exemplary diagram showing an automatically
selected object on a mobile terminal. More specifically, FIG. 3A
illustrates an object 511 of a most upper end on a most left side
being automatically selected, as a default, if the object list 510
is initially displayed on the display unit.
[0049] In FIG. 3A, the menu list 560 including function commands
applicable to the object 511 at the most upper end on the most left
side is displayed. In addition, since the object 511 at the most
upper end on the most left side is a phone number type object,
function commands applicable to the phone number type object, i.e.,
`call`, `send new message`, `send saved message` `delete`, `edit`
and `select ring type` are listed on the menu list 560.
[0050] Preferably, the menu list 560, as shown in FIG. 3A, is
configured to be displayed in a specific style in another
predetermined region (hereinafter called `second fixed region)
different from the first fixed region together with the object list
510. FIGS. 3A to 3D exemplarily show that the menu list 560 is
fixedly displayed in a matrix style in a right region of the
display unit together with the object list 510. Namely, in FIGS. 3A
to 3D, the right region of the display unit corresponds to the
second fixed region.
[0051] According to the present invention, the menu list is not
limited to being displayed concurrently with the object list in the
specific region. Instead, the menu list can be displayed
independently. For instance, if one object is selected from the
object list, the menu list corresponding to the selected object can
be displayed as soon as the object list disappears. If two display
units are provided to the mobile terminal 1, the object list can be
displayed in one of the two while the menu list can be displayed in
the other of the two.
[0052] If the object list 510 and the menu list 560, as shown in
FIG. 3A, are displayed on the display unit, a case where an audio
file type object is selected from the object list by a user is
explained as follows.
[0053] First, a user selects an audio file type object (e.g.,
`yesterday.wav` object 512) from the object list 510. The selection
of the audio file type object from the object list can be carried
out by a manipulation of the navigation key or the jog-dial as well
as the keypad of the input unit 30 of mobile terminal 1. In case
that the input unit 30 includes the touchscreen, the audio file
type object can be selected by the user directly touching the audio
file type object on the touchscreen.
[0054] If so, a menu list, as shown in FIG. 3B, including function
commands applicable to the audio file type object is displayed in
the second fixed region. The function commands shown in FIG. 3B
include `play`, `select ring type`, `send multi-mail`, `delete` and
`change name`, which are applicable to the audio file type
object.
[0055] if the user selects a specific function command from the
menu list [S270], a function corresponding to the selected function
command for the selected object is executed in the mobile terminal
[S280]. In particular, if the user selects the `play` function
command 561, the selected audio file type object is played back in
the mobile terminal.
[0056] With respect to the object selection, the selection of the
specific function command on the menu list can be carried out by a
manipulation of the navigation key or the jog-dial as well as the
keypad of the input unit 30 of mobile terminal 1. If the input unit
30 includes the touchscreen, the specific function command can be
selected by the user directly touching the specific function
command on the touchscreen.
[0057] As discussed above, the menu list can be configured
different at least in part according to a type of the selected
object. A more detailed discussion will be made with respect to the
menu lists shown in FIG. 3C and FIG. 3D.
[0058] Referring to FIG. 3C, a video file type object (e.g., `clean
sky.jpg` 513) is selected from the object list. Here, the function
commands corresponding to the video file type object, e.g.,
`enlarge`, `select background picture set`, `send multi-mail`,
`delete`, `change name` and `trim decorate`, are displayed on the
menu list 560.
[0059] Referring to FIG. 3D, a text message type object (e.g.,
James Message 514) is selected from the object list. Here, the
function commands corresponding to the text message type object,
such as `reply`, `send`, `save message` and `delete`, are displayed
on the menu list.
[0060] As mentioned in the foregoing description, it is not
mandatory for the object list or the menu list to be displayed in
the matrix style only. For instance, as shown in FIG. 4A or FIG.
4B, the object list is displayed in an arc style in the first fixed
region while the menu list is displayed in a strap style crossing
the selected object of the object list in the second fixed region.
Since those skilled in the art are able to fully understand FIG. 4A
and FIG. 4B, the detailed explanation will be omitted for
conciseness of the specification of the present invention.
[0061] Meanwhile, if a touch screen is provided to the mobile
terminal, an object selection from the object list and a function
command selection from the menu list can be further facilitated.
This will be explained with reference to FIGS. 5A to 5C.
[0062] FIG. 5A and FIG. 5C are transitional diagrams of pictures
displayed on a touchscreen of a mobile terminal implementing at
least one function command displaying method according to a first
embodiment of the present invention.
[0063] Referring to FIG. 5A, a terminal user touches an audio file
type object 512 on a touchscreen. Referring to FIG. 5B, a menu list
560 corresponding to the audio file type object is displayed.
[0064] Referring to FIG. 5C, the terminal user can drag and drop
the audio file type object 512 in a specific function command
(e.g., `play` function command 561) from the menu list. With this,
the function command for the dragged & dropped object is
executed in the mobile terminal.
Second Embodiment
[0065] A method of displaying at least one function command
according to a second embodiment of the present invention is
explained with reference to FIGS. 6 to 7D as follows.
[0066] FIG. 6 is a schematic flowchart of a method of displaying at
least one function command according to a second embodiment of the
present invention and FIGS. 7A to 7D are diagrams of pictures
displayed on a display unit screen of a mobile terminal
implementing at least one function command displaying method
according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
[0067] Referring to FIG. 7A, a menu list 520, on which at least one
or more function commands are listed, is displayed on the display
unit 50 of the mobile terminal 1 [S610]. The menu list 520 can be
configured to be displayed as a default if the mobile terminal is
in a standby mode. The menu list 520 can be configured to be
displayed if a user inputs a command for a display of the menu list
to the mobile terminal 1. Preferably, all function commands that
can be provided by the mobile terminal are listed on the menu
list.
[0068] Preferably, the menu list 520 is configured to be displayed
in a specific style in a predetermined region of the display unit
(hereinafter called `first fixed region`). FIG. 7A and FIG. 7b
exemplarily show that the menu list 520 is fixedly displayed in a
matrix style on a left region of the display unit. Here, the left
region of the display unit corresponds to the first fixed region in
FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B.
[0069] The function commands of the menu list can be displayed in
an descending order based on a selection count of each of the
function commands. Alternatively, the function commands in the menu
list can be displayed in an order starting from most recently
selected function command to first selected function command by the
user. Alternatively, the function commands of the menu list can be
displayed in an order preconfigured by the user. If there are too
many function commands, making it difficult to display all of the
function commands simultaneously on a screen, the menu list can be
configured so that a specified number of function commands are
displayed.
[0070] Subsequently, one of the function commands can be selected
from the menu list [S630]. If one function command is selected from
the menu list, the selected function command is preferably
displayed to be visually distinct from rest of the unselected
function commands of the menu list using a color change, a size
variation, a flickering effect or the like.
[0071] After one of the function command is selected, a list of
objects (hereinafter called `object list) 570, which is executable
for the selected function command, is displayed. Preferably, each
of the objects of the object list 570 is configured to be displayed
as a combination of a text indicating a name of the object and an
image indicating a type of the object. In particular, with respect
to objects such as a video file and a moving picture file, an image
of a file itself can be displayed instead of an image indicating a
type of the object.
[0072] FIG. 7A exemplarily shows a mobile terminal configured in a
manner that a function command 521 at the center of the menu list
520 is automatically selected as a default if the menu list 520 is
initially displayed on the display unit 50. In FIG. 7A, the object
list 570 including objects applicable to the function command 521
at the center is displayed. In addition, since the function command
521 at the center is a `send multi-mail` function command, objects
executable for the `send multi-mail` function command are
exemplarily listed on the object list 570.
[0073] Preferably, the object list 570, as shown in FIG. 7A, is
configured to be displayed in a specific style in another
predetermined region (hereinafter called `second fixed region`)
which is different from the first fixed region together with the
menu list 520. FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B exemplarily show that the menu
list 520 is fixedly displayed in a matrix style in a right region
of the display unit together with the object list 570. Namely, in
FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, the region on the right side of the display
unit corresponds to the second fixed region.
[0074] According to the present invention, the object list is not
limited to being displayed concurrently with the menu list in a
specific region. For instance, if one function command is selected
from the menu list, the object list corresponding to the selected
function command is displayed as soon as the menu list disappears.
If two display units are provided to the mobile terminal 1, the
menu list can be displayed in one of the two while the object list
can be displayed in the other of the two.
[0075] If the menu list 520 and the object list 570, as shown in
FIG. 7A, are displayed in the first and second fixed regions,
respectively, a case where a `send new message` function command
522 is selected from the menu list by a user is explained as
follows.
[0076] First of all, a user selects a `send new message` function
command 522 from the menu list 520. The selection of the `send new
message` function command on the menu list 520 can be carried out
by a manipulation of the navigation key or the jog-dial as well as
the keypad of the input unit 30 of mobile terminal 1. In case that
the input unit 30 includes the touchscreen, the `send new message`
function command can be selected by the user directly touching the
`send new message` function command on the touchscreen.
[0077] If so, an object list 570, as shown in FIG. 7B, including
objects executable for the `send new message` function command 522
is displayed in the second fixed region.
[0078] If the user selects a specific object from the object list,
a function corresponding to the selected object corresponding to
the selected function command is executed in the mobile
terminal.
[0079] With respect to the function command selection, the
selection of the specific object from the object list can be
carried out by a manipulation of the navigation key or the jog-dial
as well as the keypad of the input unit 30 of mobile terminal 1. In
case that the input unit 30 includes the touchscreen, the specific
object can be selected by the user directly touching the specific
object on the touchscreen.
[0080] As discussed above, it is not mandatory for the menu list or
the object list to be displayed in the matrix style only. This is
previously explained in the description of the first embodiment of
the present invention and will be omitted in the following
description for conciseness of the specification of the present
invention.
[0081] Further, if a touch screen is provided to the mobile
terminal, an object selection from the object list and a function
command selection from the menu list can be further facilitated.
This is previously explained in the description of the first
embodiment of the present invention and will be omitted in the
following description for conciseness of the specification of the
present invention.
[0082] Accordingly, the present invention provides the following
effects or advantages.
[0083] First of all, the present invention is able to execute all
functions of a mobile terminal by one object selection and one
function command selection made by a user without employing the
conventional tree-structured function command configuration,
thereby facilitating a procedure for using the mobile terminal
considerably.
[0084] Secondly, the present invention enables a most recent or
last selected object or a most frequently selected object to be
displayed on a screen with priority, thereby facilitating a user to
recognize a current use status of each function of a mobile
terminal.
[0085] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made in the present invention
without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus,
it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications
and variations of this invention provided they come within the
scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *